Recovering? Recovered?

Here's a question: how long after one relationship ends are the people emotionally ready for another?

I guess there are a lot of factors involved, like the length of the previous relationship, the depth and seriousness of the relationship, availability and quality of support networks, stuff like that. But does the human heart heal at the same speed no matter the person? Is that a consistent part of everyone's emotional make-up?

I've always been a pretty emotionally stable person. As long as I've had God on my side, I've been able to slog through whatever life has dealt me. I talk to my friends and they definitely have always been there to help me, as well as my family. But there have been a lot of times when I have either kept everything to myself or just not had anyone around to share with. Those times it was just myself and the Almighty. I've always considered myself to be blessed enough to be a "dealer." I "deal" with the things that happen to me. Sure, I may rail out loud about the circumstances, but that's just to express frustration. I've already made peace with the situation if I know that I can't do anything about it, because I know it's in God's hands. Which are really big and capable.

So that means that I'm a quick healer when it comes to relationships. Don't get me wrong, when I'm in a serious relationship and it ends, I'm broken hearted. I'll cry and mope. This last time I actually considered, for a while, that I was suffering from a mild form of depression because I didn't find pleasure in any of the activities that I used to enjoy and I had a little trouble sleeping. That may not seem like a lot to some of you, but for me, the "dealer," it shows a lot. But after a couple of weeks/months, I am a lot better. And trying to move on. That's what helps me.

So I guess what I'm wondering about right now is how can you tell if you've recovered from a relationship? Or do we ever really recover from relationships? Maybe it just becomes easier to deal with the emotions after a while and we're never truly recovered. I think that when you share an emotional relationship of that depth with someone else, you can never quite be the same as you were before that...and you will always share something special with that other person. I guess that's what makes dating so tricky, and it makes me think that maybe we go at dating in the wrong way. I don't know.

What I do know is that I trust God with my life. I make my own decisions, try to base them on His guidance, and everything that I encounter shapes who I am. I am the person that I am today because of what happened to me yesterday, and the decisions I make today will mold the person I am tomorrow. So I wouldn't change a thing that I've been through. But that doesn't mean I can't be smarter, and more careful and prayerful about the decisions that face me today.

I'm not going to dwell. I have learned, I am still learning, and dealing with the effects of my actions. I will move on with God's help because that's who I am.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Romans 8:24, 25

I've seen the footprints in the sand; I've been carried far enough, Father. With your guidance, I want to walk on my own now.

God be with you,
-Matt